Endoscope thermal reflector
An endoscope system for use with a light guide having an endoscope; and a reflector configured for placement between the endoscope and the light guide. The reflector has a translucent portion for transmitting light from the light guide and a reflective portion for reflecting light from the light guide back into the light guide.
1. An endoscope system for use with a light guide comprising:
an endoscope; and
a reflector configured for placement between the endoscope and the light guide; and
wherein the reflector has a translucent portion for transmitting light from the light guide and an annular shaped reflective portion for reflecting light from the light guide back into the light guide; and wherein at least some of the reflective portion between edges of the light guide is at a non-zero angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a direction of light from the light guide.
2. The endoscope system of claim 1 wherein the endoscope further comprises a light post and the reflector is configured for placement between the light post and the light guide.
3. The endoscope system of claim 1 wherein the reflector further comprises a flat reflective portion.
4. The endoscope system of claim 3 wherein the reflector further comprises an annular shape.
5. The endoscope system of claim 1 wherein the reflector further comprises an inwardly angled reflective portion.
6. The endoscope system of claim 5 wherein the reflector further comprises an annular shape.
7. The endoscope system of claim 1 wherein the reflector further comprises a curved reflective portion.
8. The endoscope system of claim 7 wherein the reflector further comprises an annular shape.
9. The endoscope system of claim 1 further comprising the light guide; and a light source coupled to the light guide.
10. An endoscope system comprising:
an endoscope further comprising:
a body;
a light post coupled to the body, the light post having a first active area of light transmission;
a light guide, the light guide having a second active area of light transmission; and
a connector for connecting the light guide to the light post; and
a reflector configured for placement between the light guide and the light post;
wherein the reflector has a translucent portion for transmitting light from the light guide and an annular shaped reflective portion for reflecting light from the light guide back into the light guide; wherein at least some of the reflective portion between edges of the light guide is at a non-zero angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a direction of light from the light guide; and
wherein the first active area has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the second active area.
11. The endoscope system of claim 10 wherein the translucent portion has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the first active area.
12. The endoscope system of claim 10 wherein the connector has a diameter and wherein the reflector has an outer diameter that is smaller than the connector diameter.
13. The endoscope system of claim 10 wherein the translucent portion has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the first active area; and wherein the reflector is configured to fit inside of the connector.
14. The endoscope system of claim 10 wherein the reflector further comprises a flat reflective portion.
15. The endoscope system of claim 14 wherein the reflector further comprises an annular shape with an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the first active area.
16. The endoscope system of claim 10 wherein the reflector further comprises an inwardly angled reflective portion.
17. The endoscope system of claim 16 wherein the reflector further comprises an annular shape with an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the first active area.
18. The endoscope system of claim 10 wherein the reflector further comprises a curved reflective portion.
19. The endoscope system of claim 18 wherein the reflector further comprises an annular shape with an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the first active area.
20. The endoscope system of claim 10 further comprising a light source coupled to the light guide.
21. A reflector for use in an endoscope system with an endoscope and a light guide, the reflector comprising:
a translucent portion for transmitting light from the light guide; and an annular shaped reflective portion for reflecting light from the light guide back into the light guide;
wherein at least some of the reflective portion between edges of the light guide is at a non-zero angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a direction of light from the light guide; and
wherein the reflector is configured for placement between the endoscope and the light guide.
22. The reflector of claim 21 wherein the reflective portion is flat.
23. The reflector of claim 21 wherein the reflective portion is inwardly angled.
24. The reflector of claim 21 wherein the reflective portion is curved.
25. The reflector of claim 21 wherein the reflector further comprises an annular shape.
26. An endoscope system for use with a light guide comprising:
an endoscope; and
a reflector configured for placement between the endoscope and the light guide; and
wherein the reflector has a translucent portion for transmitting light from the light guide and an annular shaped reflective portion for reflecting light from the light guide back into the light guide; and wherein a substantial amount of the reflective portion is at a non-zero angle relative to an axis perpendicular to a direction of light from the light guide.